I'm benefitting from the sacrifices and seeds sown by Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, and so many others. Those of us who are beneficiaries owe it to have a season of service in which we try to give back.
Interpretation
We owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us, and it's our responsibility to give back to our communities.
This quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the sacrifices made by civil rights leaders like Shirley Chisholm and John Lewis. It suggests that those who have benefited from their efforts have a moral obligation to give back to society through acts of service, ensuring that the legacy of these leaders continues to inspire and uplift future generations.
In practice
In a speech about community engagement, one could use this quote to inspire others to serve.
I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good, becomes honorable by being necessary. If the exigencies of my country demand a peculiar service, its claim to perform that service are imperious.
If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
What volunteers bring is the human touch, the individual, caring approach that no government program, however well-meaning and well- executed, can deliver.
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God.
There's a lot of projection that if you're in service then you shouldn't look good. I'm no different from anybody else. I like clothes, I like shoes, I like to go have nice dinners, I like to dance. Just because I've dedicated myself to serving women, why do you think I need to sacrifice myself?
Missionaries serve to make life better for God's children.
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